Couple accuse Hawaiian snorkeling tour company of abandoning them in ocean

A California couple has filed a $5m lawsuit against a tour company in Hawaii which it claims abandoned them in the middle of the ocean during a snorkeling tour.

In September 2021, Elizabeth Webster and her husband, Alexander Burckle, were on their honeymoon in Hawaii during which they booked a snorkeling excursion with the boat tour company Sail Maui.

According to court documents reviewed by NBC, the pair was part of a 44-passenger group that set sail from Lahaina Harbor at 10am for the tour and was scheduled to return to at around 3pm.

They also claim that they were not given instructions on how to get back on the boat, or what to do in case of an emergency.

The lawsuit claims that crew members did three headcounts but according to other passengers, the crew did not ask them to stay still during the counting process.

Webster and Burckle attempted to swim in the same direction that the boat was moving but the water became increasingly deep, the lawsuit said.

The couple eventually reached the shore at around 1pm and were helped by an island resident who found them dehydrated and fatigued.

Webster and Burckle are currently seeking compensation for general damages and emotional distress.